Get Ready for Your Best Summer on the Bike Yet 🚵‍♂️☀️

Gets GO!

Summer is just around the corner, and whether you’re planning long evenings in the local woods, big mountain adventures in Wales, or a dream riding trip to the Alps, now is the perfect time to get your bike and body ready for an unforgettable season on two wheels.

At WyeMTB, we believe the best summers start with preparation. A little time spent now can mean more confidence, more comfort, and far more fun when the trails are dry and the days are long.

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1. Visit Your Local Bike Shop 🔧

Before the summer adventures begin, make sure your bike is ready for the miles ahead.

A visit to your local bike shop, fo us this is Pedal Synidate in the Forest of Dean for a professional service can completely transform the way your bike rides. Fresh brake pads, smooth gears, properly bled brakes, tightened bearings, and a drivetrain check can make the difference between an incredible day on the trail and a frustrating mechanical issue halfway through a ride.

A well-maintained bike doesn’t just perform better — it keeps you safer and allows you to focus on what really matters: enjoying the ride.

It’s also the perfect excuse to upgrade your riding kit ready for the season ahead. Protective equipment has improved massively over the years, and modern trail gear is lighter, more breathable, and far more comfortable than ever before.

A few of our favourite summer essentials include:

• Troy Lee Designs A3 Helmet
• Troy Lee Designs Knee Guards
• Troy Lee Designs Gloves

The right gear gives you the confidence to ride harder, explore further, and stay comfortable during those long summer days on the hill.

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2. Give Your Suspension Some Love 🛠️

If you’re looking to really freshen up your bike for summer, a fork and shock service can make an enormous difference.

Here in the Forest of Dean, we ride plenty of rough, technical terrain, and suspension works hard all year round. Over time, oils degrade, seals wear out, and performance slowly fades without many riders even noticing.

A properly serviced suspension fork and rear shock can completely transform your bike:

• Better grip
• More comfort
• Improved control
• Increased confidence on technical trails

We highly recommend the team at Sprung Suspension Workshop for keeping your bike performing at its absolute best.

Whether you’re riding local trail centres, natural mountain terrain, or planning a European riding trip, quality suspension setup is one of the biggest upgrades you can make.

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3. Invest in Your Skills 🚵‍♀️

We might be slightly biased on this one… but one of the best ways to prepare for summer riding is to spend time with a qualified local coach.

Mountain bike coaching isn’t just for beginners or elite racers. It’s about understanding how the bike works beneath you, developing confidence on technical terrain, and learning how to ride more efficiently.

Small changes in body position, braking technique, cornering, and trail awareness can completely transform your riding experience. Coaching helps riders:

• Ride smoother and safer
• Build confidence on technical terrain
• Improve efficiency and control
• Reduce fatigue on longer rides
• Tackle features they previously avoided
• Get more enjoyment from every ride

At WyeMTB our coaching pathway is designed to support riders at every stage of their mountain biking journey.

Based in the heart of the Forest of Dean, our sessions combine professional coaching, real trail riding, and a relaxed, supportive environment that helps riders progress with confidence.

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Finding Your Feet: Core Skills

Our coaching pathway starts with Finding Your Feet, a beginner-friendly session focused on the fundamentals of mountain biking.

This session introduces riders to:

• Body position on the bike
• Effective braking
• Gear use
• Weight shifting
• Understanding trail centre riding

Perfect for newer riders, returning riders, or anyone looking to build stronger foundations before progressing onto more technical terrain.

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FOD Flow: Intermediate MTB Coaching

Once riders are comfortable on blue graded trails, the next step is FOD Flow — our intermediate coaching session designed to help riders progress onto red graded terrain with more confidence and control.

This half-day session combines expert instruction, practical trail riding, and video analysis to help riders better understand their riding technique and trail interaction.

Skills covered include:

• Cornering and berms
• Weight shift techniques
• Effective braking
• Pumping the trail
• Small drops and trail features
• Line choice and trail awareness

The session is ideal for riders wanting to develop more flow and confidence on natural and trail centre terrain throughout the Forest of Dean.

📅 Next Course: Sunday 14th June

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FOD Flow Part 2: Advanced MTB Coaching

For riders looking to push their skills further, FOD Flow Part 2 develops advanced techniques needed for more technical downhill and enduro-style terrain.

Using the 1 and 2 dot downhill trails around Cannop Cycle Centre, riders work closely with a British Cycling-qualified coach to refine advanced riding skills through detailed coaching and real-time video feedback.

Advanced topics include:

• Pumping natural terrain
• Advanced cornering
• Advanced braking techniques
• Racing lines
• Advanced weight shifting
• Drop-offs above hub height
• Technical trail management

This session is ideal for riders preparing for bike park riding, alpine adventures, enduro racing, or simply wanting to ride faster and more confidently on technical terrain.

📅 Next Course: 5th June

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Small Groups, Big Progression

One of the biggest benefits of coaching at WyeMTB is the small group environment. Sessions are limited to a maximum of six riders, allowing for:

• Individual coaching feedback
• Real-time video analysis
• Personal progression goals
• More trail time with the coach

Our supportive coaching style focuses on progression without pressure, helping riders build confidence at their own pace while still being challenged in the right way.

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Off Road Leader Award 🚵‍♂️

For riders looking to move beyond coaching and into leading and guiding others, WyeMTB also delivers the British Cycling Off Road Leader Award.

Formerly known as the Fundamentals of Mountain Bike Leadership Award, this qualification prepares new leaders to safely guide groups in easy to moderate off-road environments, including woodland trails, gravel tracks, urban fringe routes, and blue trail centre terrain.

🔧 What You’ll Learn

• Route planning & ride preparation
• Basic trailside repairs
• Emergency procedures
• Leadership & group management skills

👥 Who’s It For?
Perfect for clubs, schools, activity centres, volunteers, and riders starting their MTB leadership journey.

🛠️ Requirements

• British Cycling online learning
• 2-day practical training course
• Off-road riding logbook
• 16hr Outdoor First Aid qualification
• British Cycling Safeguarding CPD (£19.99)

📅 Next Course: 1st – 2nd June
⚠️ Only 3 Spaces Left

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Ready for Summer?

The best riding season of the year is nearly here.

Get the bike serviced, refresh your suspension, invest in quality riding gear, and spend time building your skills. A little preparation now can lead to your biggest and best summer on the bike yet.

Whether you’re:

• Riding local woods
• Tackling red and black trails
• Heading to the Alps
• Planning bike park trips
• Or simply wanting more confidence on the bike

…developing your skills now will help you get far more from every single ride this summer.

If you’re looking to improve your riding, join a guided ride, or prepare for your next mountain bike adventure, check out what we offer at WyeMTB.

📧 Hello@WyeMTB.co.uk
📞 01600 228474

Does your Guide’s bag really need to be that heavy?

 

Guide bags come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but one thing is clear, if you are leading clients you need to ensure you have the correct equipment. Here at WyeMTB we like to split this bag into two main sections

1  Emergency group kit e.g. if a rider is hurt and needs medical assistance, do you have the provision to keep the group and the casualty comfortable and protected from the elements?

2 Bike repair kit

Avoidance is better than cure, so if the Guide checks their clients are carrying the following items;

• a spare layer
• a rear mech hanger for their bike
• inner tube
• their own medication

Additionally, by having the clients complete a full M check of their bikes at home, they should identify any issues with the bike before they head out on the guided ride.

Guided rides happen in a vast array of locations; the local park, the local trail centre in the Forest of Dean and the deepest darkest parts of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The further you move away from civilisation the higher the consequences are if there is a accident or a mechanical. Having a fully equipped bag  that is checked before every ride will help with these incidents.

The essential equipment for a British Cycling Mountain Bike Leader will carry in their guide bag.

• Well stocked first aid kit – including trauma bandage, we keep this close to hand!
• A comprehensive bike repair kit
• Group Shelter, check our Blog on group shelters, and a survival blanket or Blizzard blanket
• Extra layer for the casualty to wear if they have an off, ideally a synthetic layer works well as it hasgreat thermal qualities even when wet
• Spare hat and gloves – This could be weather dependent however e.g. if its 30′ outside do you need these extras?
• Nokia phone where the battery lasts for ever. Make sure you register it with 999 which allows you to text in an emergency if you don’t have mobile signal
• Physical map of the area you are working in, a compass and the skills to use them both!
• Procedures in place – late back, accident/injury, mechanical beyond repair
• Energy gel – for those clients at risk of bonking!

 

WyeMTB run a number of short courses from Pedalabikeaway trail centre in the Forest of Dean, one of our most popular courses is Trail side repairs. If you want to bush up on those skills check the half day course out.

 

Burgtec Pedals are Ace

Burgtec MK 4 Composite Pedals

We have been running the Penhouse flat MK4 pedals for some time now and love the simplistic and hard wearing nature of them. We have given them some real abuse on our Guided rides around South Wales. Let’s not shy away they are a premium product and retail at a cool £99 for the steel option or £149.99 for the titanium option. We have been using the steel options and they haven’t put a foot wrong or should we say a pedal wrong 😉

WyeMTB were super chuffed to see they have now released a composite pedal which enters into a lower price range £39.99 rrp. This lower price doesn’t compromise on the amazing qualities of MK flat pedal apart from the material, the pedals are even using the same mold as their Penthouse pedal….. Nice touch lads.

Burgtec have ensured all their local retailers have these mega pedals in stock, so go and check them out at your local bike shop.